The Challenge

"In the name of God !! What sort of man are ye!?" Sean got up from the couch.

During this stormy winter night, the team of mutants known as Generation X, had given this stranger the protection of their home. He was well into his forties and spoke as if he had been living since the day time was created.

"Do not look so shocked Mr. Cassidy, you of all people should know what it's like.", he continued to speak as the young mutants sat around him in awe, "The world that we live in is constantly ... POISONED by the unfit rulers that are pampered into power!"

Emma, who was standing behind an entranced Monet, reached out to Sean with her mind, {Don't look, just listen.} Unlike the students, these two were growing suspicious of him. {The stranger ... I can't read his mind ...}

"Why should men that were born with a name be placed above us, who were simply born SUPERIOR ?!", the man turned to face Emma, {but I can read yours.}

The kids noticed that he was now occasionally glancing at Emma and Banshee. Emma was troubled by the calmness displayed by this individual. A puzzled Skin was now looking at his peers, like someone asking for directions. A weird tension grew in the room, and the student's attention shifted from their lecturer to the instructors. The stranger stopped talking and looked at Monet as she awakened. She had a sinister look and her eyes glowed with power. The young woman rose to her feet and faced him.

"ANCIENT ONE !!! En Sabah Nur.", Monet was standing, with her feet floating two inches above the floor. "I don't believe we've met before ...", her tone was milder, but there was a fury in the way she looked at the man.

Emma stood in the corner of the room, frightened by the fact that her powers were not working. Everett heard M's voice inside his head, telling him to get in sync with everyone's power. Sean let out a steel-shattering scream. The stranger smiled.

"GNNNNN... A WORTHY ATTEMPT!!" he delighted at the pain he felt, as his body was pounded on and torn at. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists. From the inside of his chest immerged what seemed to be a blinding pulse of light. As the team struggled to regain their sight, his voice rang through their minds, {YOU THOUGHT YOURSELVES CAPABLE OF DEFEATING THE APOCALYPSE ? Pathetic fools ... Maybe you should try yourselves against creatures of your own foolish young age ...}. The whole team recovered from the attack. Sean, Emma, and Apocalypse were nowhere to be found, and they were completely surrounded by trees.

"The danger grotto ... Are we supposed to defeat Artie and Leach ?"

"Sorry Angelo, we are nowhere near the biosphere. As a matter of fact, I believe we are no longer in North America.", Monet looked at Synch, "I could use some help surveying the landscape.", they both floated upwards until they were above the trees. The rest of the team gathered and started making plans.